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jeremy kuhles

Defining Japanese Hotel Culture — It’s All about the Blurred Boundaries

Updated: Apr 30, 2023



I've found that after living in Japan for a significant amount of time, the novelty of the once-foreign, eye-poppingly different ways of life can start to fade. It's human nature, of course. I recall an Aesthetics class I took in university that discussed how even the grandest and most magnificent structures, like cathedrals, can lose their enchantment when they become familiar parts of our daily routines.


To combat this tendency towards jadedness, I've actively sought out experiences that embody the Japaneseness of Japan. These can be simple things like taking extra time to peruse the aisles of a convenience store or enjoying the ambience of an old-school yakitori restaurant — allowing the tastebuds to dance to the sourness of ume sauce, the citrus punch of yuzu-kosho, and whatever adjective accurately describes the herby shiso leaf.


Another way — albeit with a bit more effort and expense — is by staying at one of the Hoshino Resorts. I enjoy the minute attention to detail, conscious, eco-friendly practices, and the distinctive Japanese aesthetic permeating the spaces, even though it's not always easy to pinpoint precisely what that is. Recently, I happily came across an interview* with Yoshiharu Hoshino, the fourth-generation CEO of the company, who shed some light on this elusive quality.


A grey area exists where relaxation and comfort extend beyond the private quarters.

According to Hoshino, the concept of a ryokan differs fundamentally from that of a Western-style hotel in its blurred boundaries between public and private spaces. In a ryokan, the guest experience is not confined to the walls of their room; instead, a grey area exists where relaxation and comfort extend beyond the private quarters. For instance, guests are free to roam the common areas in yukata and slippers, blurring the lines between public and private spheres.


It's intriguing how the distinct Japanese aesthetic at a ryokan hinges on the notion of being private in public, especially since privacy is so heavily guarded and valued in daily life in Japan. It's a fascinating paradox :)


*Interview from "B" Brand Documentary Magazine, Issue No. 66 Hoshinoya

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